In a recent episode of the talk show Conan O’Brien, actor Tom Hanks opened up about his career highs and lows. During their conversation, O’Brien expressed his belief that Hanks has had a consistently successful career, with no “career lows” to speak of. However, Hanks humbly disagreed, stating that while he has had some great films, there have also been checkered moments in his filmography.
Hanks humorously highlighted this point by presenting his IMDb page, pointing out that while he has nearly 100 films to his name, he considers only around six of them to be truly remarkable. He acknowledged that the rest of his filmography can be seen as a mixture of hits and misses.
O’Brien, on the other hand, was convinced that no one considers Hanks to have ever had a low point in his career. Hanks playfully responded by joking that no one wakes up at 3:00 am, wondering why they are haunted by career failures. He explained that he approaches each project with enthusiasm and faith in the collaborative process, comparing his career to a baseball player’s batting average.
In the film industry, most actors do not start a movie with negative expectations. They do not believe it will fail nor that it will be a complete success. Hanks emphasized that the feeling of uncertainty is part of the process, and even filmmakers do not always have a clear picture of how a film will turn out. He recalled an anecdote from the time he was working on the film “Turner and Hooch,” sharing how director Roger Spottiswood’s response to the dailies, “they were not half bad,” perfectly summed up the mindset of a filmmaker.
Hanks continued his explanation by discussing how technology has changed the perception of films over time. He referenced the invention of the VHS machine and how it revolutionized the movie rental industry. Previously, films would come and go, but with the advent of VHS tapes, movies became easily accessible, leading to timeless classics that continue to be enjoyed today.
Hanks emphasized that the passage of time has become a significant metric for determining the impact and significance of films. He described the various stages of a film’s journey, from loving the script to seeing the final product for the first time and then facing the critics’ reviews. Hanks pointed out that, ultimately, a film’s success or failure does not define its long-term value.
The actor shared an interesting observation about critics and their ever-changing opinions. He expressed how a film that may have disappointed viewers upon release can gain a new life as a cult classic years later, while others that were initially well-received may become irrelevant. This phenomenon highlights the unpredictable nature of the film industry and how a film’s lasting impact cannot always be determined in the moment.
Hanks concluded his chat with O’Brien by reflecting on the ever-evolving nature of the entertainment industry. He mentioned that even critics can change their perspective on a film as time goes by, emphasizing that the carnival-like nature of the industry is part of the journey that everyone involved has signed up for.
In this insightful and light-hearted conversation, Tom Hanks proves that even a highly esteemed actor like himself has experienced both highs and lows throughout his career. His humility and candidness shed light on the unpredictable nature of the film industry and remind us that success can be measured in many different ways.
